Feb. 13, 2009
ORLANDO, Fla. – After scoring three runs in the first, South Carolina held on to take a 3-0 victory over Bradley in the Gamecocks’ final game on Friday in the UCF Early Bird Tournament.
The Gamecocks (4-1) got all the runs they needed with a three-run first. Freshman Kristen Stubblefield and senior Ashton Payne started the game with singles, and freshman Evan Childs loaded the bases with her one-out hit. Sophomore Jill Semento seemed to foul off a pitch, but she hit the catcher’s glove while doing it, earning first base on the catcher’s interference call. Stubblefield trotted home and was followed by Payne when sophomore P.J. Fulmer drew a walk on an 11-pitch at bat. After a pop out, freshman Lauren Lackey grounded one toward the hole at short. The Braves’ shortstop Miriam Wegmann tried to field the ball and touch third for the force, but she bobbled it, allowing Semento to reach the bag and Childs to score. Ashley Birdsong induced a pop out to get out of the inning.
Three Gamecock pitchers combined for the shutout. Freshman Audrey Broyles (2-1) tossed four innings in relief to get the win. She allowed three hits and a walk while fanning seven. Bradley starter Ashley Birdsong (1-2) got the loss, giving up eight hits and three runs, one earned, while striking out eight.
Broyles came into a bases-loaded jam in the fourth. The Braves (3-2) got two hits and a fielder’s choice to load the bags to start the frame, prompting the pitching change from the Gamecocks. The Pembroke Pines, Fla., product battled through a nine-pitch at bat to strike out Lauren Meister before going through 10 to sit down Anne Creighton. Broyles then got pinch-hitter Alison Kresl to strike out on a mere six pitches.
Payne and Fulmer both had two hits to lead the Garnet and Black. Both teams left 11 runners on base in the contest.
The Gamecocks face North Florida and Bowling Green starting at 9 a.m. at Hagerty High School Field on day two of the UCF Early Bird.
